SPRINGFIELD — For the second straight season a Shorter helped make for a short-lived Nixa post-season run.
The Eagles fell 55-44 to Kickapoo in a Class 6 District 5 semifinal Saturday, as the Chiefs’ Jackson Shorter netted a game-high 16 points.
A year ago Nixa lost to Kickapoo in the same round, with the Chiefs’ Brayden Shorter scoring 28 points and younger brother Jackson adding 19.
Nixa couldn’t keep up with Kickapoo, after the teams were tied at 23 at halftime. The Eagles’ Devon Kemp nailed a 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer to knot things up.
Nixa’s last lead proved to be 28-26 on a Josh Peters 3-point goal a minute into the third quarter.
Kickapoo answered with a 9-0 run to lead 35-28.
Nixa (21-7) limited Chiefs guard Reese Kimrey to one field goal and six points, after he had 15 points and hit a game-winning jumper against the Eagles in the teams’ regular-season meeting.
Shaun Campbell supplied eight points for Kickapoo in the fourth quarter.
Kickapoo took control down the stretch, upping a 40-39 lead to 46-39 with 2:45 remaining.
Nixa did not have anyone reach double-figure scoring. Peters and Jaise Combs both scored nine points and Adam McKnight had eight.
Kickapoo (25-3) has won 15 of the last 18 games in the teams’ series.
In the other semifinal, Springfield Central handled Glendale by an 80-62 count.
